Monday, May 18, 2009

Meryl Streep Month begins in 14 days. For the six or seven Streep-phobic readers among you I promise to keep it fun and cinematically broad (co-stars, directors, tangents, oscar discussions). Regular posting will continue betwixt the Mary Louise Gummer business.

Your enthusiasm + my stamina will = how far we journey into the Streep Territories. For now, offer up suggestions in the comments and take this poll. I've left out the obvious must (Sophie's Choice) and things that are unavailable (Joe Tynan), that I have no desire to revisit (Manchurian, etc...) or that I've already discussed (the quite recent stuff).

65 comments:

I am so excited for this retrospect, Nathaniel. How about nailing the different genres she's tackled like drama, comedy, romance, etc. Her key performances should be acknowledged in the genres, both good and bad --are there any ?

I would like to revisit Streep in 85. I'm finding it very hard to choose which performance is best. Her strong willed presence in OUT OF AFRICA or her subtle brilliance in PLENTY?

Manhattan! Manhattan! Manhattan! I'm having a resurgence of LOVE for that film and for Meryl at the moment. I've only seen 6 of her 15 Oscar nominated performances so far - but they're about to show Postcards from the Edge on TV now, so soon that will be 7 (and counting...).

Out of all movies Meryl's been in I love the most The Deer Hunter but that's not because of her.So I would say Postcards from the Edge .By the way, there's something wrong with the radio buttons, it won't let me choose three, just one.

She was effortless and relaxed. Don't know why she did not get more recognition for that performance? Probably because it came out the same year as Adaptation, and that was so funny, surprising and unlike anything she has done before.

Hey!I'm new here, but I've been reading this great blog for a long time.Today I've decided to leave my first comment because I'm a huge fan of Meryl Streep and I really want to partecipate to this poll.I'd say EVERYTHING... but if I have to choose then I vote for POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE, SILKWOOD and THE HOURS (about Meryl's perfomance in the latter I do completely agree with Murtada).Nice to be here and to share comments and opinion with you all!Terris from Italy =)

Fernando -- i liked Plenty in 85 and loved Out of Africa which I saw 2 or 3 times. 24 years later i remember Plenty with much greater clarity and i only saw it that one time.

Terris welcome! thanks for commenting. the more the merrier. Silkwood is one of my favorites so I hope to do that but i want to see what people are most interested in cuz there's so much to choose from.

Stone me now, but I am not a fan of Meryl. She is a good actress, but Nathaniel... Prime... what are your thoughts. I loathe this film, I cannot explain how much. The thing that makes Meryl Streep so good is love her or hate her she is a good actress - unlike people like Jessica Lange, whom I love or even Sissy Spaceck. But I digress. What are your thoughts on Prime. Is there anything redeeming about this movie... strangely enough I have never checked its score on IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes... but I'm asking you.

Silkwood, Postcards from the Edge, and Bridges of Madison County are my three favorite performances of hers (besides Sophie's Choice, of course).Meryl Streep month will make the last few days of my junior year much better. major gracias.

I picked Julia in hopes it will prompt discussion about Vanessa Redgrave (if anyone deserves an entire month of attention it's someone like her instead of the woman the media shoves down our throats every five minutes) or even Jane Fonda (whose work doesn't get discussed often simply because it's not current).

Honestly, I can't think of a time when an actress has been LESS deserving of more exposure. She'll start to think she's being rewarded for 2007 and 2008. [dies]

Having a Meryl Streep month is basically like designating a White History Month. For obvious reasons. I get it. She's talented. But she's also the most accessible actress of her generation and to me it seems like a wasted opportunity.

Well, I think Hayden has a point. It would be great if one of these month we have a "Actress Not Everyone is Familiar With All Her Work Month" (i.e. Anjelica Huston,Gena Rowlands, Catherine Deneuve, Helana Bonham Carter, Catherine Keener, Victoria Abril, Parker Posey, Patricia Clarkson, Isabelle Huppert, Angela Basset, Sarah Polley, etc...)

up to this day, i believe she was robbed of the oscars for "out of africa" and "bridges of madison county" in favor of sentimental favorites geraldine page and susan sarandon. i consider "adaptation" as one of her greatest performances, ever.

I have nothing agains Meryl nor Nathaniel nor this blog... I love all three... The only thing I was saying when I said Hayden has a point was this:

Hayden said:"I picked Julia in hopes it will prompt discussion about Vanessa Redgrave (if anyone deserves an entire month of attention it's someone like her instead of the woman the media shoves down our throats every five minutes) or even Jane Fonda (whose work doesn't get discussed often simply because it's not current)."

And I agreeg in tha fact that there are other actresses with a lot of work in their careers that we could all watch and discuss so we can amply our horizons, becasue we're not all that familiar with their work, mainly because the media doesn't cover it.

OK, Fernando... I feel my reaction to you both was too harsh .. I agree there are many actresses who should be acclaimed more... but Streep never got the idolatry she has been getting the last 2-3 years .. and she is truly deserving it now.

I choose the AIA,Madison,Heartburn.no doubt about francesca in Madison, but I think Heartburn is one of Meryl's most underrated comedic role. and Angels in america is one of her best. I can not ranked 2th among AIA, silk wood, Madison and A Cry in the dark.

I'm sorry Nathaniel. I've just been really frustrated with Meryl and her career in every year this decade besides 2002 and 2006. It seems odd that all the "Best Actress Ever" citations are coming in a decade I think has been (mostly) full of fluff and mannered performances.

Hayden I share your concern (albeit much much much less emphatically) but this is mostly an excuse to go backwards. As you may have noticed I've been on an 80s kick ;) and I haven't seen SILKWOOD in forever and it's one of my favorites of the whole decade. Plus, I've never seeen JULIA and i promised someone who donated that I would review it forever ago.

Feeling guilt. must atone.

if it works out and enough people tune in and enjoy perhaps i will tackle someone else. Or at least more theme weeks.

Yes! Cover older Meryl! Her recent roles have been...not as lasting. Like she's not trying as hard because she doesn't have to. I mean, I liked the movie and she was good, but her Devil Loves Prada Oscar nomination truly is a sham. I am a big fan of hers but I think the recent overhype is the type that leads to backlashes, and a career like hers certainly doesn't need tarnishing like that.

No!!! Say it ain't so! I mean, like I said, she was good, I just don't think it probably takes her much effort to play an icy bitch. Plus I WORSHIP Anne Hathaway so I was pretty much staring at her the whole time.

I will simply die if you do not cover Death Becomes Her. Such a welcome departure for her, and it's still funny to this day!

I know everyone has an opinion but from what I've seen, and I've seen almost 30 of her movies and 13 of her 15 Oscar nominations I cannot agree with comments that her work during the last 9 years has been somewhat lazy or effortless. She was OUTSTANDING in the devil wears prada because she did something nobody had done before and totally deserved her nom there, definitelly better than Doubt, yet the Doubt performance being better than Kate in "The Reader"; I chose "Julia" and "The Hours" because I love the movies, not simply Meryl's performances and "The Bridges of Madison County" cuz I'm in a really romantic state of mine recently, hahahz. One more thing, her work during the last 9 years is better than what she did in the 90s... wait until her last kid goes to collage and she'll show even better stuff to the world.

Also, as long as you're on a 1980's kick . . . Kent's post about the two great Streep performances in 85 (Out of Africa and Plenty) got me thinking about all the other excellent films that came out that year. For example:

Witness28 UpBrazilMy Beautiful LaundretteZed and Two NoughtsDim SumKiss of the Spiderwoman

I never thought of the mid 80's being a particularly strong time for film before, but I think I'm wrong about that now.

I own all of Meryl's movies (including Alice at the Palace and Secret Service) and have been a life-long fan. She's so great in every role but I'd have to choose Sophie's Choice, Adaptation, and Bridges as her finest performances..oh wait, let's not forget Plenty...and Doubt..gosh, it really is impossible to only choose a few as the woman is absolutely remarkable. A true living legend.